Making Soap: Base-Catalyzed Hydrolysis of a Triglyceride
Abstract: The main reason for this experiment is to prepare a simple soap made from vegetable oil. The physical properties will be tested in order to demonstrate the reactions that occur.
The experiment can conclude that the vegetable oil had a primary fatty acid called linoleic acid, which was evident during the saponification reaction. The simple soap did appear to be a good emulsifier because the soap did dissolve in the mixture of mineral oil and water. In hard water the calcium and magnesium did loose their effectiveness and became insoluble in the solution. When magnesium was added to acidic water, the salt was converted to a fatty acid, and was also insoluble.
Background:
The purpose of this experiment is to demonstrate saponification in order to prepare a simple soap made from a vegetable oil. The emulsifying properties will also be tested in order to demonstrate the reactions that occur in hard and acidic water. The physical properties of the vegetable oil will be compared to a different physical properties produces from a different vegetable oil.
Triglycerides are fats found in oils. Triglycerides have three components; glycerol, alcohol functional group, and fatty acid. Triglycerides can vary in size and structure depending on the fatty acid attached. Glycerol is theoretically three ester bonds. In the experiment the ester bonds are broken down through a process called saponification. The product of this reaction is soap. An alcohol and carboxylic acid are also produced when an ester bond is broken. While under basic conditions the negative carboxylic acid and positive ions produce a Carboxylate salt of the fatty acid. Therefore a soap produced can create many different Carboxylate salts.
Carboxylate salts have a water-soluble portion and a portion that is hydrophobic. As a result of having a water-soluble and a fat-soluble portion allows the soap to act as an emulsifier. This allows materials that are not normally soluble to become soluble in
The experiment can conclude that the vegetable oil had a primary fatty acid called linoleic acid, which was evident during the saponification reaction. The simple soap did appear to be a good emulsifier because the soap did dissolve in the mixture of mineral oil and water. In hard water the calcium and magnesium did loose their effectiveness and became insoluble in the solution. When magnesium was added to acidic water, the salt was converted to a fatty acid, and was also insoluble.
Background:
The purpose of this experiment is to demonstrate saponification in order to prepare a simple soap made from a vegetable oil. The emulsifying properties will also be tested in order to demonstrate the reactions that occur in hard and acidic water. The physical properties of the vegetable oil will be compared to a different physical properties produces from a different vegetable oil.
Triglycerides are fats found in oils. Triglycerides have three components; glycerol, alcohol functional group, and fatty acid. Triglycerides can vary in size and structure depending on the fatty acid attached. Glycerol is theoretically three ester bonds. In the experiment the ester bonds are broken down through a process called saponification. The product of this reaction is soap. An alcohol and carboxylic acid are also produced when an ester bond is broken. While under basic conditions the negative carboxylic acid and positive ions produce a Carboxylate salt of the fatty acid. Therefore a soap produced can create many different Carboxylate salts.
Carboxylate salts have a water-soluble portion and a portion that is hydrophobic. As a result of having a water-soluble and a fat-soluble portion allows the soap to act as an emulsifier. This allows materials that are not normally soluble to become soluble in